Indigenous scholar, Montreal dancer shortlisted for Griffin poetry prize

TORONTO – Indigenous scholar Billy-Ray Belcourt and dancer Aisha Sasha John are among the Canadians shortlisted for the $65,000 Griffin poetry prize.

Organizers say Belcourt, of the Driftpile Cree Nation, makes the cut for his book “This Wound is a World,” published by Frontenac House, while Montreal-born dancer and choreographer Sasha John is in the running for her book “I have to live,” published by McClelland & Stewart.

Rounding out the list is Donato Mancini’s “Same Diff,” published by Talonbooks.

Four books by U.S. authors will vie for an international prize, also worth $65,000.

They include “Heaven Is All Goodbyes” by Tongo Eisen-Martin and published by City Lights; “Debths,” by Susan Howe and published by New Directions; “Whereas,” by Layli Long Soldier and published by Graywolf Press and “Hard Child” by Natalie Shapero, from Copper Canyon Press.

The two winners will be announced at an award ceremony June 7. The finalists each get $10,000 for participating in readings in Toronto on June 6.

Judges Sarah Howe, Ben Lerner and Ian Williams each read 542 books of poetry, from 33 countries, including 17 translations.